[Treatment of chronic post-traumatic infections of the bone and soft tissue with gentamycin PMMA beads (PMMA = polymethylmethacrylate) (author's transl)].

Temporary implantation of Gentamycin PMMA beads and chains provides a most effective local antibiotic therapy as supplementary and consecutive treatment after surgical procedures executed in bone and soft tissue infections. Gentamycin beads and chains are used as an alternative to irrigation-suction drainage. From 1977 to 1979 70 patients were treated for chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis and infection of the soft tissue. The chronic bone infections subsided completely in 90% of the patients, but 8.3% re-infections were observed within 3 to 24 months after termination of treatment. In 18 patients with gunshot wounds 66.6% of the patients got primary healing and 33.4% secondary healing.